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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

NASA's Space Shuttle Program Medallions

NASA has commissioned two commemorative medals, each minted using flown-in-space metal, to recognize the end of its 30-year space shuttle program.

The two medallions, both to be produced by Winco International, NASA's supplier of mission insignia lapel pins throughout the course of the shuttle program, feature in full color the space agency's Space Shuttle Commemorative Emblem as designed by Blake Dumesnil but otherwise differ in design and inscription.

The NASA Award Medallion (1.75" diameter) is "in recognition of all who played a vital role in supporting the shuttle program." In addition, this limited edition medallion celebrates the program's 135 missions during 30 years of innovation and service.

NASA Award Medallion. Click on image to enlarge.

Metal ingots produced for this program were flown on a space shuttle mission and then included in production so each medallion would contain flown material.

On the reverse, a space shuttle launch is rendered dimensionally in antique silver. The award medallion was designed by NASA artist Sean Collins.

Minted with the same shuttle-flown ingots included in the NASA Award Medallions, this medallion features a dimensionally rendered reverse showing the space shuttle at work through a launch, on-orbit operations and landing.

These medallions, designed by Andy Boston of Winco with additional artwork provided by Dumesnil, will be plated in antique bronze.

Both medallions will be distributed by NASA and its contractors to employees as well as will eventually be available to the public. (A special version of the NASA Award Medallion will be limited to agency presentation only.)

328KF

I found the bronze "Mission Complete" medal in the Kennedy Space Center gift shop while down at the STS-135 launch. I did not see the silver Award version.

bthumble

The Space Store has them (Mission Complete, Award) for sale. I purchased two of each and received them in about 3-4 days.

cspg

The medals are really, really neat.

bobslittlebro

Does anyone know what percentage of flown metal is in each medal?

crash

I would think that the percentage is tiny. However, the claim still stands.

Someone please refresh my memory: why is NASA and Winco keeping the information on what material / what mission the flown material for these medallions were carried on?

Robert Pearlman

NASA has said that because the medals are meant to honor all shuttle missions and not just one, the mission(s) the metal was flown on is not being specified.

Fezman92

How many of these medals will be made?

p51

I picked up one of these on my epic buying spree at the Kennedy Space Center visitor center gift shop last week.

It says flown metal. I was curious about that, what did they melt down to make these? It's a neat coin and I love it, just wondering if it's bona fide or not and if it actually was cast from flown metal, where they found it.

Robert Pearlman

Metal ingots were flown on a space shuttle mission for the purpose of creating these and other official NASA medals. NASA is not making public on what mission the ingots was flown as the medals are intended to honor all missions.

Robert Pearlman

(A special version of the NASA Award Medallion will be limited to agency presentation only.)

For future reference (if it not already known), the special agency-only edition of the award medallion reproduced the silver medal's design in plated antique bronze.

tnperri

Interesting. Didn't know that. Would this be considered a Space Flight Awareness award?

Robert Pearlman

No, I don't believe so. I believe the agency-presentation version was made for the space shuttle program rather than the Space Flight Awareness Office.

JBoe

I'm hoping that a few leak to the public, if not NASA making if available like the other two commemoratives.

Any idea what the reverse/obverse looks like or is it the same as logo/design with the shuttle program commemorative logo?

Robert Pearlman

The agency-only medallion is identical to the public version, with the exception of it being plated antique bronze.

Like the public medals, the agency medal was produced and distributed in 2011. It was not then and will not now (or in the future) be authorized for public distribution.

The purpose of my post was for reference should the medals surface from estates in the future.